A few days in California... Visiting Grandpa Jim and Judy!

Spring Break is nice. Though I created this Spring Break -- I suppose that would make it self-made? I'm very self-sufficient. Going to my grandparents' house is so sweet! I love visiting them. They live in Redondo Beach which is about 45 minutes to an hour outside of LA. It's also about 3 blocks from the beach! These factors provide ample opportunities for entertainment. These are the ones that we've taken advantage of so far:

Trump National Golf Course
Wayfarer's Chapel
Crystal Cathedral
Del Amo Shopping Mall

This is in addition to a few local hot spots. For instance, the first morning we were here, we ate at a place called Joe's in Redondo Beach. This place was a seat-yourself diner that served everything from toast to omelettes, belgian waffles to flapjack stacks. It was fantastic! I ate off of everybody's plate. I had a some veggie omelette, some biscuits and gravy, home fries, fresh fruit, toast with jam, french toast, sausage. I loved it! Especially after being on a fairly liquid diet for almost two weeks..
Then, we took a tour of the Los Angeles area. My Grandpa Jim is a walking encyclopedia about most things. We saw the oil refineries, the harbors, and just about every shopping mall in LA and surrounding areas!

Like I said, part of what makes my grandparent's house so special is the fact that it's 3 blocks from the beach. The best thing to do every morning is wake up and walk straight down there. It's usually a bit chilly, but totally worth it!
Candace and Laura and I had a blast. So glad we went!

Family Fun

My family from Dallas was in town this past weekend. They are so much fun. My cousins are considerably younger than me, and it's more like having a niece and a few nephews. But, nonetheless, they are each quite unique individuals. They have such personalities!

Jake, who's 6, is just like his dad (my uncle Eric). In addition to looking like him, he is really smart. However, he's also competitive, clumsy, and argumentative. This makes for an entertaining weekend! A few of his favorite activities are playing the Wii (only if Carson plays hard enough to make it fun, and as long as CJ plays down to his level so that Jake can still win), throwing the ball around (as long as everybody else throws and catches correctly), and playing soccer (as long as he doesn't trip over his own feet). He was entertaining to say the least!

Carson -- the middle child. That says enough I think. He's 4 and he is ALL BOY. He is so ornery, and he's quite the manipulator. The first night he was at my parent's house, he had gone all day without a nap. Unfortunately, he talks and keeps his brother up, so he was downstairs with us until Jake fell asleep. When his mother (my aunt Sarah) told him it was time to go upstairs, his response was : "Wait Mom. Dad: Are you with me, or are you with Mom? Because I'm not ready to go to bed." He is hysterical -- and too cute!

Savannah is the baby. She is 2 and a half, and has already developed her own sense of style. About 8 months ago, she developed an affinity for shoes and purses. She has yet to outgrow it (unfortunately for her parents). We went shopping, and she walked through the store with exclamations such as "This is cute. This is pretty. I yike this!" whilst grabbing at each pink outfit within her reach. My only girl cousin is 18 years younger than me, but she and I still have so much in common!

What fantastic friends I have in Christ

My family is one of the things God has laid on my heart more heavily than any other burden. The Lord truly has taken the yoke for me a few times, and even protected me from some potentially hurtful situations. A few different times I have come to the conclusion that my family can't come to Christ solely by way of me. I need support systems surrounding them constantly with love, encouragement and truth. I have prayed for them without ceasing, and have had faith that the Lord will soften them beyond my imagination.

However, there are times of trial and tribulation. This week is one of them. It seems that Satan is attacking my family in a way I've never experienced -- or at least witnessed as one of Christ's followers. I just heard an amazing message last night on the Armor of God. One of the weapons that we are given to fight with is the sword -- "take up the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God" Ephesians 6:17. This is one of the weapons among many others. Jesus uses this weapon as well. "Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn 'a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law -- a man's enemies will be the members of his own household'" Matthew 10:34-36.

This is so unbelievably evident I don't know how to handle it any more. I have been told by my father that if I truly loved and cared for my sister, I would not talk to her about God any more. If it's important to me to be friends with her then I need to leave that part of my life out of her and my relationship. He says it's because she's like him. He implies that I need to do the same for him. I'm called to pick up my sword though! I'm not supposed to come in "peace". I need to fight for tham out of love against the enemy. These passages are so encouraging. However, I heard a message recently of a pastor's testimony: He has been a pastor for over 30 years, lived a godly life, raised a family that is all committed to following the Lord. However, the family he was born into has yet to come to know Christ. His 90 year old father will not accept Him as his Savior. Am I so naive to believe that God will soften my parent's hearts, if even these people will not accept Truth? God promised me in Matthew 10 that he has not come to bring peace. What does this mean for my family? For my sister... my brother... my mother... my father... Will He allow them to come to know Him?

In seeing this, I am reminded that I have been adopted by God. He has his one and only begotten Son, and he has adopted the rest of us who call him our Father -- Galations 4:4-7. This is amazing, because my Heavenly family will never disappoint. Christ has been through the oppression and affliction that I experience. He hurts when I hurt, and He holds me through it all -- I can never escape from my Father's hand.

I have not only been adopted by God, but also by my friends. All my close friends have been raised in Christian homes. Homes where the love of Christ is displayed by their parents, or grandparents, or siblings. Most of the time, all of the above. This means they attended camps, and had Christian friends, and went to youth groups that were encouraging. They made life-long friends -- in addition to their families! This hardly seems fair to me. Because of my past, I have made all new friends. I have no family with my faith and foundation to lean on. No family like a solid rock to stand firm upon. But when I am surrounded by these friends, I am reminded that I cannot take them for granted. I was not born into this family of friends that I have been blessed with. They have chosen me, in a perfect reflection of the way God, my Father, has chosen me.

Should I be discontent? Should I need more? Is it okay for me to want friends AND family for Christian inspiration? Am I being selfish? I have been delving into the scripture to find these answers. Perhaps there are no answers. But please pray for my family. I hope God would understand that selfishness is as good a reason as any for me to long for my family's salvation.

A Lenten fast

For the last few years as I began my walk with Christ, I have chosen to give up something for Lent each year. Though this is a traditionally Catholic celebration (or holiday?), I have made it personal between me and God. 40 day fasts are very biblical, traced all the way back to Moses on the mount. I have taken it more seriously, as well. I discipline myself with my choice to fast from something that will grow me. It's not something simple, it's something I choose to trust God to provide. Because I don't struggle with a chocolate addiction, and because the television doesn't cause me to stumble, I don't choose these fasts for my fate. One year I was a vegetarian over Lent, one year I gave up facebook -- it's been quite diverse.

This year, with Lent fast approaching about mid-February, I began praying over what I would sacrifice for Lent. It was a particularly hard decision, as I knew I would face a bit of dissent (as Lent is a "made-up" holiday). However, when better to fast than the 40 days before Jesus first comes? After all, we are fasting over his return!

So, as if from God, I logged on to Facebook one day and had been invited to join a group called "40 days of water". Though this ministry was choosing to fast for 40 days, it didn't coincide exactly with Lent. As I read more about it I decided it was the best option I had for fasting.

For this particular fast, I (and the other participants) are choosing to drink only water and no other beverages. It does not limit food intake -- but when it comes to drinking, only water. Also, this fast is two-fold. All the money you save by drinking only water (a.k.a. the money you don't spend on pop, coffee, or for some alcohol), you donate to Blood:Water Missions. It serves Africans with clean water for the treatment and prevention of AIDS. For $1, one person can be provided with clean water for an ENTIRE YEAR! I am so excited to continue with this fast, because this ministry is so important to me, especially after just going to Haiti. People who can't help themselves need the Lord more than anything, and if this ministry of clean water and prevention of deadly viruses helps even 1 person, it is so worth it! Psalm 9:17-18.

Though none of you may choose to participate in this 40 day fast, if you'd like to contribute, even 3 days, or 1 week -- it would be amazing! At the end of Lent I'm going to send all the money that I've saved in, and if you would like to pray for this ministry, or join me temporarily I would love more accountability and fellowship through this fast! Matthew 6:16.

Visiting Christie -- a Mini Vaca if you will!

I LOVE spontaneous road trips. So, when everything got canceled (my brother's dentist appointment and a babysitting gig) Wednesday this week, I took the opportunity to drive to visit my best friend Christie. I had only had one other chance to meet up with her since she had moved and I was anxious to visit her. It was really fantastic to catch up, and it was so nice out that we had a picnic at the park for lunch. We decided it'd be really fun to meet up with Andrew and Michelle Hawkinson in order to play with the kids. Here's what we did most of the afternoon!






We had so much fun. God is so good. Children are such a blessing. I love this family! And any of you who know Christie -- she's amazing. She is such a fantastic blessing to my life, and it is such a relief to know that God has protected her from her recent health scares (a bout with a lesion found on her lungs, that turned out to be scarring and non cancerous). A true answer to prayer! I am so glad to have spent this quality time with her.